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Not sure if this is better in the work or the education forum but I'm giving it a shot here.
I have a BS in "general studies" but basically a lot of health sciences and education classes. I have no real usable skill set in terms of a job that would even cover childcare. I am considering two very different possibilities.
I have been considering going back for a Master's degree - a MLS (library science). I think I would enjoy the work and love libraries. Program is online, ALA accredited, and no more than a total of $20K. Would work out great logistically. Problem is I hear the job market is not great right now because of all of the older librarians that were expected to retire that are not retiring. The alternate occupations that are touted for MLS holders are things to do with database mgmt and web development (due to the information technology courses in the curriculum). I have heard unpromising things about employment prospects in those areas as well from reading a yahoo group of MLS students and graduates. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects slower than average growth in this field.
Non-MLS library jobs do not pay that well, and some MLS holders are having to be happy to get those, if any job related to the degree at all. Add to that we are a military family, and I can't just up and pursue jobs all over the place.
I don't NEED to work right now, as my kids are young and we are handling our finances OK, but if I do go to school, I need to be able to get a job to make the tuition worth it. I'd like to have a skill set that can pay the bills if needed. I'm perfectly OK with the $40-50K that a librarian can make, but not OK with the $15-20K a library assistant could make.
So, I had been thinking about radiography (x-ray tech). Its a 2-yr program. Opens up opportunity to move to more specialized areas like CT, Nuclear Medicine, and Mammography, to name a few, in the future. Time-wise, it would take the same length of time as I plan to devote to the library program. Logistically, it would be more difficult with the need for childcare etc... Private programs are about $25-30K with no wait list/lottery, and public programs are a lot cheaper with lottery/waitlist. I'd probably have to go the private route due to our moving rather often. A quick check of the local hospital employment website shows $20/hr or so for starting wage for x-ray techs. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects faster than average growth of this field.
In the end I will probably end up going for the MLS, but I wonder if the Radiography program would be a better idea, given my family's need to change location every 3-4 years. At some point my husband will retire from the military and I may have to be the person making ends meet while he looks for a civilian job.
Both fields interest me, although they are very different fields. Both pay about the same. Both can have odd hours and part-time opportunities, which is both a pro and a con.
What do you think? Any suggestions? (I don't want to be an RN, so that is off the table). I'm feeling a little clueless and don't know how to figure this one out.
Do you think that you would be happier working at a library or in a hospital? I very much like working at my library and cannot imagine working at a hospital with it's busy pace and people that are in pain/sick and generally don't want to be there. That's not to say that I don't appreciate the people that work in hospitals, in fact, I think I really appreciate them, because I wouldn't want to do that.
Have you thought about starting off with your MLS, working at lower paying jobs part-time while your kids are little and then going for your teaching certificate so you can be a school librarian? The salary for a school librarian is quite good, especially at the college level.
The college where I work starts librarians in the mid 30s. The public library starts lower. Those librarians, like me, who are earning $40-50K have been building a career for 10+ years. Look online at your local government web pages and see what librarians in your community make - civil service job information is public record so you should be able to look that up.
Academic librarians generally need a second master's degree in a subject specialty, but that doesn't net you more money.
School librarians generally need to have a teaching certification.
Federal jobs for librarians generally pay rather well. As an active duty military spouse you would have hiring priority. Check out the library at the base where your husband is stationed.
If you decide to get the MLS, get it as cheaply as possible and do not go into debt for it.
Pay as you go.
Have you thought about starting off with your MLS, working at lower paying jobs part-time while your kids are little ...
The problem is those low pay jobs pay between $8-10/hr and I would still need to pay for childcare. If I worked any weekend or late evening hours, I'd be paying a sitter $8-10/hr to watch my kids, so it would cost me money.
With the cost of childcare (and I cannot rely on my husband as his job takes him away often - think average 8 mos per year - plus when he is home, its not unusual for his schedule to change from day to day with that much notice), I have to pick something that gets me out of the gate making decent money. I unfortunately will not have the luxury of a new college grad to take any job that gets my foot in. That's why this is so anxiety-provoking for me. Last time I entered the workforce as a college grad, we were at our first assignment and I had to work as a lifeguard for $6/hr. I also temped for $6/hr doing office work. The wages in that town have not gone up much from there.
I remember when I graduated with my BS and could not find a job that paid more or even as much as I made before I went to college. I have long known (12 yrs now) that I needed to go back and enhance my skill set/education, but I know, and my husband always says, whatever I do I need to make sure I can actually get a job. Our lifestyle and the places it leads us is, rather unfortunately, a big factor in the decision process.
I could look at the federal route, but cannot count on it. There is one base librarian per base. If a local civilian has that job, and it pays well as goi cuon says, that local civilian is going to hold tight to it for years. While it would be a great opportunity, its not something I can expect, just something to watch for.
Goi-cuon - do you have any links for those public records salaries? I looked at the hiring pages for the closest large city and there are no library jobs whatsoever to see the listed salary for. The local university (which is public and lists salaries as well) has no job listings either. I know our town hired a PT library aide for about $7-8/hr recently. Is there a search keyword that might help me find such listings? I have always just found starting salaries by looking at current job opportunites.
Not sure if this is better in the work or the education forum but I'm giving it a shot here.
I have a BS in "general studies" but basically a lot of health sciences and education classes. I have no real usable skill set in terms of a job that would even cover childcare. I am considering two very different possibilities.
I have been considering going back for a Master's degree - a MLS (library science). I think I would enjoy the work and love libraries. Program is online, ALA accredited, and no more than a total of $20K. Would work out great logistically. Problem is I hear the job market is not great right now because of all of the older librarians that were expected to retire that are not retiring. The alternate occupations that are touted for MLS holders are things to do with database mgmt and web development (due to the information technology courses in the curriculum). I have heard unpromising things about employment prospects in those areas as well from reading a yahoo group of MLS students and graduates. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects slower than average growth in this field.
Non-MLS library jobs do not pay that well, and some MLS holders are having to be happy to get those, if any job related to the degree at all. Add to that we are a military family, and I can't just up and pursue jobs all over the place.
I don't NEED to work right now, as my kids are young and we are handling our finances OK, but if I do go to school, I need to be able to get a job to make the tuition worth it. I'd like to have a skill set that can pay the bills if needed. I'm perfectly OK with the $40-50K that a librarian can make, but not OK with the $15-20K a library assistant could make.
So, I had been thinking about radiography (x-ray tech). Its a 2-yr program. Opens up opportunity to move to more specialized areas like CT, Nuclear Medicine, and Mammography, to name a few, in the future. Time-wise, it would take the same length of time as I plan to devote to the library program. Logistically, it would be more difficult with the need for childcare etc... Private programs are about $25-30K with no wait list/lottery, and public programs are a lot cheaper with lottery/waitlist. I'd probably have to go the private route due to our moving rather often. A quick check of the local hospital employment website shows $20/hr or so for starting wage for x-ray techs. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects faster than average growth of this field.
In the end I will probably end up going for the MLS, but I wonder if the Radiography program would be a better idea, given my family's need to change location every 3-4 years. At some point my husband will retire from the military and I may have to be the person making ends meet while he looks for a civilian job.
Both fields interest me, although they are very different fields. Both pay about the same. Both can have odd hours and part-time opportunities, which is both a pro and a con.
What do you think? Any suggestions? (I don't want to be an RN, so that is off the table). I'm feeling a little clueless and don't know how to figure this one out.
Got a bit long-winded sorry.
What do you think is the future for libraries? Are they going to eventually go the way of the newspaper? Will you be able to "take out" books online and read them from your home computer?
What do you think is the future for libraries? Are they going to eventually go the way of the newspaper? Will you be able to "take out" books online and read them from your home computer?
I think there will be fewer printed resources, but they will be replaced by electronic resources. Reference librarians will always be needed to help patrons access the resources and do research. I also think MLS level staff will always be needed to manage collections, do archival work, manage special programs, and update and install new database/cataloging software, among other things MLS level staff do that I don't even know.
There may be a need for fewer shelvers and circulation desk people. At our local library, the circ desk staff does not check out books unless a patron has trouble or the self checkout lines get too long.
I know our system already has downloadable books - they advertise them with a picture of a guy happily listening to his ipod.
I recently went into the library at my old college. The reference area has fewer books and many more computer stations. The reference desk has been consolidated into the circulation and reserve area (oh, that must have been fun. When I was a student and worked circulation, the reference librarians thought we were a bunch of dummies and would get mad if we gave reference help after-hours).
The problem is those low pay jobs pay between $8-10/hr and I would still need to pay for childcare. If I worked any weekend or late evening hours, I'd be paying a sitter $8-10/hr to watch my kids, so it would cost me money.
With the cost of childcare (and I cannot rely on my husband as his job takes him away often - think average 8 mos per year - plus when he is home, its not unusual for his schedule to change from day to day with that much notice), I have to pick something that gets me out of the gate making decent money. I unfortunately will not have the luxury of a new college grad to take any job that gets my foot in. That's why this is so anxiety-provoking for me. Last time I entered the workforce as a college grad, we were at our first assignment and I had to work as a lifeguard for $6/hr. I also temped for $6/hr doing office work. The wages in that town have not gone up much from there.
I remember when I graduated with my BS and could not find a job that paid more or even as much as I made before I went to college. I have long known (12 yrs now) that I needed to go back and enhance my skill set/education, but I know, and my husband always says, whatever I do I need to make sure I can actually get a job. Our lifestyle and the places it leads us is, rather unfortunately, a big factor in the decision process.
I could look at the federal route, but cannot count on it. There is one base librarian per base. If a local civilian has that job, and it pays well as goi cuon says, that local civilian is going to hold tight to it for years. While it would be a great opportunity, its not something I can expect, just something to watch for.
Goi-cuon - do you have any links for those public records salaries? I looked at the hiring pages for the closest large city and there are no library jobs whatsoever to see the listed salary for. The local university (which is public and lists salaries as well) has no job listings either. I know our town hired a PT library aide for about $7-8/hr recently. Is there a search keyword that might help me find such listings? I have always just found starting salaries by looking at current job opportunites.
Thanks for your feedback.
In our area (at my library) the staff people that have MLS degrees make much more then $10 an hour. The school librarian salaries start at $45,000. Just like everything else, salaries are going to vary quite a bit depending on the area. We've had three people with MLS degrees that volunteered cataloging and within a year got jobs working at nearby colleges or more recently, as the director at another public library. There is a list-serv for library jobs, but I don't know what it is.
There are lots of online sources for library jobs, including ALISJOBS and LISJOBS.
In addition to the libraries on military bases that function like public libraries, there are military hospital libraries and libraries with technical and classified collections. If there are schools on the base, there may be media specialist librarians employed in the schools. In addition to the librarian jobs (series 1410 in the federal system), there are technical information specialist positions (series 1412) that are frequently filled by librarians.
The face of libraries is changing, but they aren't going away any time soon. A librarian today needs to be tech-savy. The more computer skills you have, the more employable you will be. Librarians today should not expect to be employable if they lack social skills or a strong customer service ethic. Unless you go to work in one of the very large library settings (like Yale, where there are over 200 librarians), you will have to deal with either the public or at least internal customers. The days of becoming a librarian in order to hide from human contact are long gone.
I love my profession but I can't really recommend it for someone seeking job security or greater income opportunities.
Having 24 credit hours of business courses will open the door to a wide range of federal job opportunities that would be commonly available on a military base as well as in many cities. Combine that with having military spouse hiring preference and you will have a lot of options.
Having 24 credit hours of business courses will open the door to a wide range of federal job opportunities that would be commonly available on a military base as well as in many cities. Combine that with having military spouse hiring preference and you will have a lot of options.
One would have to make it through 24 credit hours of business courses without vomiting first LOL.
Yeah, I don't want to be a contract specialist. I'd get an MPA if that were my goal.
I asked some other librarians and have been getting mixed reviews. Basically, the gist was that if I could move to a job, and did not want public reference or children's collections, I could probably find work. While I don't need to do public reference or want to do children's collections, I can't move to where the jobs are; I may be stuck in a small city of 50,000 for 2-6 yrs looking for a job related to the MLIS. And I don't want to get a teaching certification to do school libraries. My kids' school library aide (we don't even have an MLS level librarian) is kind of grouchy sometimes, and I can see why.
I guess I am back to square one in a sense. I need to figure it out because last night my husband was suggesting to me that I should be a real estate agent. Now where did I put that vomit bag? (no offense to RE agents but I would drink myself to sleep each night if I had that job).
One would have to make it through 24 credit hours of business courses without vomiting first LOL.
Yeah, I don't want to be a contract specialist. I'd get an MPA if that were my goal.
I asked some other librarians and have been getting mixed reviews. Basically, the gist was that if I could move to a job, and did not want public reference or children's collections, I could probably find work. While I don't need to do public reference or want to do children's collections, I can't move to where the jobs are; I may be stuck in a small city of 50,000 for 2-6 yrs looking for a job related to the MLIS. And I don't want to get a teaching certification to do school libraries. My kids' school library aide (we don't even have an MLS level librarian) is kind of grouchy sometimes, and I can see why.
I guess I am back to square one in a sense. I need to figure it out because last night my husband was suggesting to me that I should be a real estate agent. Now where did I put that vomit bag? (no offense to RE agents but I would drink myself to sleep each night if I had that job).
Adma, first of all, there's nothing wrong with drinking oneself to sleep.
Next, hats off to your hub for serving our country in the military. Many Thanks to him.
Now, you gotta do the thing that you love, and want to do. Do you like the environment of a wonderfully quiet library, or dealing with stressed out patient who are absolutely mad with worry about their health, and want you to tell them right away with you see from the images, knowing you can't.... Imagine yoursef in each situation, extrapolate it to some further scenario and see how you would feel or react. Of course you can expand to go into ultrasound tech, spend most of the time looking at tummys of expecting mothers for cute little new babies. Of course, too, people with librarian degrees can go into other areas, i.e. tech/manual writers, business development, auditing in high tech companies.
Each position is carryable to many locations. Although the healthcare would be easier to find a new job as there are just more openings.
Both of these areas are noble professions and should make you proud to be a member of its individual fratenity, as well as helping you make a decent living.
Good luck, enjoy the journey and don't stress too much. It'll work out, you sound like a wonderful family.
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